The earliest dated example is a deep circular dish in the writer’s collection, the centre of which is occupied by the figure of a mermaid floating on the sea, a horn in her right hand, and regarding herself in a mirror which she holds in her left; the wide border is covered with intricate and very elegant arabesque sprays of foliage with fruits and flowers, among which are birds. The whole is painted in dull pale blue on a grey enamel and heightened with white, and on the reverse is the inscription “1540 · ADI · 16 · DEL · MEXE · DEOTVBRE.” In the Brunswick museum there is a large dish, having the subject of Moses and Aaron entreating Pharaoh, with a rich border of medallions figurative of the months, &c., and the inscription “1568. Zener Domenigo da Venecia Feci in la botega al ponte sito del Andar a San Paolo.” Pieces are in various collections having for mark a C-formed fish hook, with loop at one extremity and barbed point at the other. The only name which occurs in connexion with these examples is that of one _Dionigi Marini_, who signs a plate having this mark twice repeated, and the date 1636. In 1753 the Bertolini obtained a decree of the senate permitting them to open a shop in Venice for the sale of their maiolica, free for ten years of all import and export duties. Notwithstanding, the manufactory had ceased before the expiration of the term of the decree in 1763, when it was annulled. The leading characteristic of the enamelled pottery produced at Venice in the sixteenth century is a close buff-coloured body, covered by an even glaze of grey colour, produced by the ad mixture of a small portion of zaffre, and known as “smaltino.” Upon this the design was outlined and shaded in blue, of a rather low tone, the high lights being touched in with white. Engraved [Illustration] is a large dish, very elegantly ornamented, probably made about 1540. The reverse of the dishes generally have a belt of foliated sprays round the rim, and radiating flutings or alternating thin and thicker lines round the “cavetto.” It is worthy of remark that some of the Paduan wares are similarly ornamented, and we may thence infer some connexion between the establishments or an attempt at imitation; the fact that a cross was adopted as a mark at both places is also noteworthy. [Illustration] The Venetian wares of the last century which, without positive proof, are generally believed to have been produced by the Bertolini have also distinctive qualities. They are remarkable for their thinness and lightness; baked at a high temperature, they are almost as sonorous as metal; the ornamentation round the rim is frequently executed in rilievo, and they have been mistaken for enamelled copper with _repoussé_ flowers, &c. The colours used were generally blue and brown, with yellow occasionally, on a pale blue or dull white ground. [Illustration]